Means for constructing embankments and road-beds.



No. 837,940. PATEN-TED DEC. 11, 1906.

F. F} LLOYDL MEANS FOR CONSTRUGTING EMBANKMENTS AND ROAD BEDS. APPLICATION FILED M Y 29, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

rut NORRIS PETERS co, wAsmua'roN, n. c.

No. 837,940. PATENTED DEC. 11, 1906.

' F.F.LLOYD.

MEANS FOR ODNSTRUGTING BMBANKMENTS AND ROAD BEDS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m: mums PETERS to, wnsmuarou, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

FREDERICK F. LLOYD, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO E. B. & A. L. STONE COMPANY, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 11, 1906.

Application filed May 29. 1906. Serial No. 319,377-

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK F. LLOYD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county of Alameda and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Means for Constructing Embankments and Road-Beds, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention is designed more particularly to dispense with. the building of trestle-work in connection with the forma- .tion of road-beds or embankments during the construction of railways.

Ordinarily where the bed for the tracks of a railroad have to span a depression in the line of work it is customary to construct or erect a trestle across such depression and then to fill in or around the trestle so constructed with the material to form the roadbed, which material constitutes the fill and embeds therein the timbers used for the erection of the trestle-work, such timbers or lumber employed in the erection of the trestlework being lost by being permanently embedded within the formed bed or embankment.

The object of the invention is to save the expense incident to the loss of the embedded timber of the trestle-work, likewise the cost as to the erection of such trestle-work for supporting the cars conveying the material to be dumped to form the bed or embankment; also, to provide for a continuous dumping of the cars, thus expediting the work of constructing the road-bed or embankment.

To comprehend the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein-- 1 Figure 1 is a plan of my means for constructing road-beds, the guys to the top of the mast being omitted. Fig. 2is a sectional elevation of the same on the line a: x of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line y y of Fig. 1.

In carrying out the invention there is first constructed a temporary foundation 1, which is preferably made in removable sections, consisting of cross-ties 2 and three longitudinal stringers, each stringer being indicated by the numeral 3. On this temporarily-constructed foundation there is supported a movable frame 4, said frame being upheld by rollers 5, said rollers being interposed between the foundation 1 and the frame 4. To the center timber of the frame 4, near the outer end thereof, is secured the tie-plates 6, between which is held the inner end of the radial bars or arms 7. The said plates 6 also hold in position the lower end of a vertical mast 7, which mast in height is from twenty to thirty feet, although the height of the mast is an immaterial feature.

The radial arms or bars 7 are bolted or otherwise secured to the frame 4, the outer end portion of the said radial arms or bars supporting the continuously-curved track 8. The width and length of this continuous track 8 are such as to overhang for a given distance the bed 9 to be constructed, the forward or outer portion of the said track 8 being projected a distance beyond the finished end portion of the bed or embankment 9.

The curved track 8 is supported against sagging by the weight of the loaded cars run thereon by means of a series of guy rods or cables 10, which rods or cables are run from the upper end portion of the mast 7 and are secured at their lower ends to a series of brackets 11, which brackets are arranged at given intervals and depend from the under face of the curved track 8, an under support for the overhanging portion of the said curved track 8 being obtained by means of the jack-arms 12. These jack-arms are secured to the said brackets 1 1, the hinged foot 13 of each jack-arm adjusting itself to the inclination or slope of the embankment or bed upon which the temporary foundation 1 is placed. The jack-arms 12 are moved inwardly and outwardly to properly position the same by means of the adjusting-rods 14.

The train of cars loaded with the material to be used as a fill during the building of the road-bed or embankment is run from the main line track 15 onto what shall be termed the entrance-section 16 of the continuous track 8 by means of a suitable engine or motor which conveys the train of cars from the point of loading, the said train being then engaged and propelled over the track 8 by means of the cable 17. This cable is run between the rails of the track 8, being maintained in proper position by means of the tension-rolls 18. One end of the cable 17 passes over the guide-sheave 18 and is attermed the exit or discharge section 24 of the said curved track 8. The advancement of the cars or train of empty cars is in proportion to the movement or travel of the said cable 17. The cars are connected to the traveling cable by means of the cable-grip 25, which grip is secured to and depends from the said cars. As the empty train of cars a preaches the exit-section 24 of the track 8 t e cable-grip 25 is released, and the train left standing at such point of the curved track until a loaded train of cars' is moved onto the receiving or entrance section 16 of the said curved track, when the switch 26 is thrown in order that the uncoupled engine for the loaded train of cars may be run over and coupled onto the train of empty cars, the engine delivering a loaded train of cars to the curved track 8 being thus utilized to take back the train of empty cars.

When the bed or embankment has been built or constructed by the material dumped from the cars to a point approximating the forward or outer end portion of the overhanging curved track 8, the movable frame 4, with the trackSthereon, is moved or forced forward on itssupporting-rollers 5 a given distance in advance of the completed work and the work of continuing the construction of the bed or embankment proceeded with as described, sections of the temporary foundation 1 being arranged in advance of the frame 4 prior to shifting the same forward to a changed position.

By the use of the described means a continuous dumping system is provided for, the delay incident to the waiting for one train of cars to 'be unloaded or dumped of its material before the working engine is permitted to return with empty cars to the place for loading being obviated.

When the work of constructing the bed or embankment is completed, the trackway, with its connected parts, is removed and stored for future use, it not having become lost by being embedded in the filled bed or embankment, as is the case with trestlework construction. A material saving is thus made, which enables a contractor to construct the filled bed or embankment at a much less cost than when required to pay for the timber utilized in trestle-work to span the depression to be filled and for the time consumed in the erection of such trestlework.

The construction of the temporary foundation 1 is simply to secure a level or smooth surface for the movable frame 4, in order that the same may be easily rolled forward as the work of constructing the bed or embankment progresses.

The expressions entrance-section and discharge-section are simply employed for convenience of description as to the running of the train of cars onto the curved track 8; but it is obvious that the train of loaded cars may enter the said curved track at either end thereof.

The advantage and saving created by the use of the described mechanism will be readily appreciated by those familiar with the construction of railway-work, saving, as it does, the heavy expense incident to labor, time, and cost of timbers employed in connection with trestle-Work construction, also making a material gain in time as to discharging and handling the cars containing the material to be dumped.

Having thus described theinvention, What is claimed as new, and desired to be protected by Letters Patent, is

1. In a device of the character described, a movable frame, an annular track carried thereby, a mast supported centrally of said frame, and a plurality of guy-rods extending radially from over the top of said mast to various points of said annular track.

2. In a device of the character described, a movable frame, a mast supported centrally thereof, a series of beams supported on said frame and extending radially from said mast, an annular track carried by said beams, and guy-rods connecting the outer ends of said beams and the top of the mast.

3. In a device of the character described, a movable frame, a mast supported centrally thereof, a series of beams supported on said frame and extending radially from said mast, an annular track carried by said beams, guyrods connecting the outer ends of said beams and the top of the mast, and jack-arms depending from the track.

4. The means for the progressive construction of road-beds across a depression without the employment of trestle-work, the same comprising a movable frame, of a curved track carried by said frame, so as to overhang the line of work, of devices secured to the movable frame for supporting the overhanging portion of the curved track, and laterally-adjustable jack-arms depending from the track, said arms engaging with the slope of the wall which the said track overhangs.

5. The means for use in the progressive construction of road-beds across a depression without the employment of trestle-work, the

same comprising a movable frame, of a curved track carrled thereby soas to overhang the line of Work, and means carried by the frame for propelling cars along the said track.

6. The means for the progressive construction of road-beds across a depression Without the employment of trestle-Work, the same comprising a movable frame or platform, of a curved track carried thereby so as to overhang the line of Work, a cable for propelling cars along the said track, and means for actuating said cable.

7. The combination With a curved track, of devices for supporting the same to over hang the line of a road-bed to be constructed, and means carried by the frame for propelling cars along the said track.

8. The combination with a movable frame 7 or platform, of a curved track carried thereby so as to overhang the line of a road-bed to be constructed, of a mast secured to the movable frame, of devices extended from said mast for supporting the overhanging portion of the curved track, and means carried by the frame for propelling cars along the said track.

9. The combination With a movable frame, of a curved track carried thereby to overhang the line of a road-bed to be constructed, of devices for supporting the overhanging portion of the track, of a main-line track for loading cars onto one end of the curved track, of means carried by the frame for propelling the cars along the curved track, and a switch for guiding the cars from the opposite end of the curved track to the main-line track.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

FREDERICK F. LLOYD. Witnesses:

N. A. AOKER, L. E. WILKINs. 

